Writing in the Independent she said: "He describes being ambushed by a mob branding "pickaxes".

"Later, Clarkson claims that a mob was trying to burn the crew's cars - which I understand did not actually happen - and he goes so far as to affirm that 'one said they were going to barbecue us and eat the meat'.

"We do, it is true, eat a lot of beef. But we have never eaten a journalist."

Ms Castro claimed the crew were also given safe passage across the border into Chile by Argentine authorities when the locals' anger threatened to boil over.

Jeremy Clarkson has said the attack on the Top Gear cast and crew in Argentina was "the most terrifying thing" he has experienced.

"I've been to Iraq and Afghanistan, but this was the most terrifying thing I've ever been involved in," he told the Sun.

"This is not just some kind of jolly Top Gear jape - this was deadly serious."

One of the cars badly damaged during the attack. Credit: Reuters

The presenter said that a mob of "hundreds" of people attacked the group after finding out they were using a car with the numberplate H982 FKL- which some suggested was a reference to the Falklands War of 1982.

However, Clarkson insisted he and the rest of the cast "knew absolutely nothing about the number plate", calling it an "unbelievable coincidence".

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A car used by Top Gear with a number plate apparently referring to the Falklands War is a "very unfortunate coincidence", the BBC claim.

The BBC said the number plate is a 'very unfortunate coincidence'.

The Porsche, driven by Jeremy Clarkson for a special episode in South America, had the registration number H982 FKL.

The number plate sparked anger in Argentina and the cast and crew of the show were forced to flee the country after being attacked with stones by protesters.

A BBC spokesman said: "We're pleased the team is safe and would like to thank all of those who have helped. As the executive producer has made clear, the number plate issue is a very unfortunate coincidence."

The executive producer of the motoring show, Andy Wilman, earlier said suggestions the number plate was chosen deliberately were "completely untrue".